Chapter 5 — An Ally Appears
The next morning, Lena arrived earlier than usual, determined to get ahead of her tasks. Her mind still lingered on Adrian, on the way his gaze seemed to claim her without a word. She shook it off as she pushed open the lobby doors, reminding herself that she couldn't let herself be distracted—not yet.
"Lena!" a familiar, cheerful voice called from the entrance to the office.
Lena turned and froze for a moment, a mixture of relief and surprise warming her chest. Standing there was Harper Lane, her best friend since college, radiating energy and confidence. With her perfectly casual blazer, wavy chestnut hair, and easy smile, Harper looked like she belonged everywhere she went—something Lena had never quite felt about herself.
"I couldn't believe it when I heard you got a job at Cross Industries," Harper said, striding over. "This place? Lena, it's huge! And you… you're working for him?"
Lena's stomach tightened reflexively. "Yeah…" she murmured, unsure how to explain Adrian without sounding foolish. "It's… complicated."
Harper's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Complicated in a good way or the terrifying, heart-racing kind?"
Lena gave a small, tense laugh. "A bit of both."
Before Harper could press further, Adrian's voice cut through the hallway like a low rumble.
"Lena."
Lena's heart skipped. She hadn't expected him to appear so early—or to speak so casually across the room.
Harper tilted her head, noticing the effect immediately. "Wow. He's… intense."
Adrian's eyes found Lena, sharp and calculating, but when he glanced at Harper, there was something subtle in his expression—curiosity, acknowledgment, perhaps even evaluation. He didn't speak again, only watched Lena for a brief moment, and then turned and strode away, leaving the space charged in his absence.
Lena exhaled, her pulse racing. Harper's grin widened knowingly.
"You like him, don't you?" Harper teased, elbowing Lena lightly. "I can see it—he's making you all nervous and flustered already."
Lena shook her head, trying to downplay it. "It's… not like that. He's… intimidating."
Harper laughed, a bright, warm sound that made Lena relax slightly. "Intimidating, sure. But also… magnetic. Lena, you're going to get caught up in this before you even realize it."
Despite herself, Lena felt the truth in Harper's words. Adrian's presence wasn't something she could ignore, and part of her didn't want to.
"I just… I need to focus on work," Lena muttered.
Harper nodded, though her eyes remained keen. "Of course. But remember, I've got your back. Anytime you need someone to vent to… or someone to keep you grounded when he starts that dangerous smile of his."
Lena smiled faintly, grateful for the reassurance. Harper had always been the anchor in her life—the one person who could make her feel normal, even when everything else felt overwhelming.
Just then, Adrian returned to the floor, walking past them with his usual quiet authority. Lena felt the tension coil in her stomach again. Harper noticed immediately.
"See?" Harper whispered, nudging her. "That's your problem. That look he gives. You're like a magnet for it, and trust me, he knows it."
Lena's cheeks warmed. She tried to focus on Harper's bright, grounding presence instead of Adrian's lingering shadow, but it was impossible to fully escape the pull.
As they moved toward the elevator together, Harper kept up a steady stream of chatter, asking about Lena's new tasks, the office, and even the rumors about the mysterious CEO. Lena found herself laughing despite the tension, grateful for Harper's energy.
But even as Harper talked, Lena could feel Adrian's presence in the room—watching, always aware. And she realized that no matter how grounded Harper kept her, some part of her was already drawn into a slow, inexorable orbit around him.
Harper glanced at her, mischief in her eyes. "You know, Lena, he's not the kind of guy who forgets people easily. Just… be careful. He's dangerous in ways most people can't see."
Lena's lips pressed into a thin line. Dangerous. Yes. Attractive. Also yes. And frustratingly impossible to ignore.
The elevator doors closed with a soft chime, separating them from the rest of the office, and Lena realized that with Harper by her side, she might just survive—mentally, at least—the storm that Adrian Cross seemed determined to stir around her.
And deep down, she knew that the storm was only just beginning.